Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/69

And all the fabled Dryades in dance:
Leering they bound along, with laughing air,
To the shrill pipe, and deep remurm'ring-cords
Of th' ancient harp, or tabor's hollow sound. 610
While th' old apart, upon a bank reclin'd,
Attend the tuneful carol, softly mix'd
With every murmur of the sliding wave,
And every warble of the feather'd choir,
Music of Paradise! which still is heard 615
When the heart listens, still the views appear
Of the first happy garden, when Content
To Nature's flowery scenes directs the sight.
Yet we abandon those Elysian walks,
Then idly for the lost delight repine; 620
As greedy mariners, whose desp'rate sails
Skim o'er the billows of the foamy flood,
Fancy they see the lessening shores retire,
And sigh a farewell to the sinking hills.
Could I recall those notes which once the Muse 625
Heard at a shearing, near the woody sides
Of blue-topp'd Wreakin! Yet the carols sweet
Thro' the deep maze of the memorial cell
Faintly remurmur. First arose in song
Hoar-headed Damon, venerable Swain! 630
The soothest shepherd of the flow'ry vale,
"This is no vulgar scene; no palace roof
Was e'er so lofty, nor so nobly rise
Their polish'd pillars as these aged oaks,
Which o'er our Fleecy wealth and harmless sports 635
Thus have expanded wide their shelt'ring arms
Thrice told an hundred summers. Sweet Content,
Ye gentle shepherds! pillow us at night."
"Yes, tuneful Damon, for our cares are short,
Rising and falling with the cheerful day,"640
Colin reply'd; "and pleasing weariness